Anaheim-based design competition opens to the public tomorrow morning

At a convention once reserved exclusively for collectible vinyl toys, enamel pin makers have come to have a notable presence at DesignerCon.

At this year’s 13th running of the annual event, which kicks off tomorrow in Anaheim, attendees will even be able to shop an expansive “pin makers only” area, space #3028 on the floor, made up of 33 different pin makers.

The area has been curated by Enamel Market, a brand that began organizing a parking lot-based pin, patch and toy show in Glendale in August. Enamel Market’s 32-year-old organizer from Covina, California, said he began organizing the events on his own after disappointment in the lack of pin-focused events in Southern California.

Free this weekend? Check out these five pin-related happenings in five different cities. All featured events include at least one pin vendor.

32nd Annual California Avocado Festival

Carpinteria, California

Friday-Sunday

About:Home of the world’s largest vat of guacamole! The California Avocado Festival is a A celebration of peace, love and guacamole at the three-dayfestival dedicated to the green fruit (yep, it’s a fruit, not a vegetable) in all its forms. In past years, the event has attracted 100,000+ people.

Details: The event’s Food Venue, which features tastings of avocado-based recipes, like guacamole, salad, soups and more, is located on the 800 block of Linden Avenue.

The festival includes more than 70 musical acts on four different stages–The MAIN stage is located on 9th Street, The SEAL Stage is located in front of the Smart & Final, The GUAC & GROTTO Stage is located on 8th Street and theKIDS Stage is located on 7th Street.Signature events include the World Champion of Guacamole contest, avocado auction and largest avocado weigh-offs (they sometimes reach more than four pounds). There will be dozens of arts and crafts vendors, commercial vendors and food booths.

Parking: There’s a Park & Ride Shuttle Service available at Carpinteria High School on Foothill Rd. and Canalino Elementary School on Linden Ave.

Admission Cost: Free

More information available at the California Avocado Festival website.

This weekly feature spotlights a variety handful of new enamel pin releases from the week. (This does not include pre-orders, only pins that are currently live and available for immediate purchase.) If you are debuting a new pin and would like it to be included in Pin Drop Friday, you can DM @for_the_share_of_flair on Instagram or email Caitlin.M.Foyt@gmail.com.

“Sailor Moon” just wouldn’t be the same without Luna and Artemis, the black and white cat guardians from the series. This week artist Emma Shavick released her enamel pin, pumpkin versions of the crescent kitties and they’re just in time for the spooky month of October. Made from soft enamel and back-stamped with the artist’s logo, the design comes in three variants: black, white and orange. Each measures 1.2” by 1.2”. The limited edition pins are now available in the artist’s Etsy store for $10 each. While you’re there, be sure to also check out the artist’s new pink variant of her bestselling “Gremlins” Gizmo design.

Today Star Wars Fantasy pin-maker Punch It Chewie Press debuted something extra special for die-hard Star Wars fans. In the new Clone Trooper Pin Set, each box contains two of the five pins total, of which four have been revealed and one remains a mystery. You’ll have to chance to score a clone from the 501st Legion, the 212th Attack Battalion, The Coruscant Guard, A Standard Clone or the rare Mystery clone. Pins are made from silver metal and hard enamel and measure approximately 2” tall. Each pin is back-stamped with the artist’s logo, features screen printed details, is dual posted and comes with corresponding rubber pin-backs. The Clone Trooper Mystery Pin Sets are now available at the artist’s website for $15 each.

Details: The event will be headlined by the iconic British New Wave legends New Order(Saturday) making their only west coast appearance this year, and Grammy-nominated and Mercury Prize-winning English singer-songwriter James Blake(Sunday).You can see the full line up by going here.

Details:In addition to booths on the convention floor, there will be a wide range of programming, including Q&A sessions with drag stars and icons, lip sync contests, drag herstory, fashion, make-up, styling, and pop culture workshops, for men and women. All are welcome at RuPaul’s DragCon. Kids 10 and under on the day of DragCon are free with an adult with a ticket.Ticket prices are available for one day or all weekend and range from $20-$80 each. VIP tickets are sold out. Drag Con is an ADA, fully accessible event.

About: The oddities flea market is the place to go for strange and unusual objects. Items for sale include: history ephemera, anatomical curiosities, natural history items, osteological specimens, taxidermy, home décor, jewelry, one of a kind art, bizarre flair, and more.

When: Saturday Noon to 5:30 p.m.

Where: The Globe Theatre, 740 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, California

Details: Tickets are $10 each and available at the door. Flash tattoos provided by Black Veil Tattoo Studio. The event includes three floors of 60+ vendors.

The guest tattoo artist Phillip Leslie will be doing a small selection of tattoos, via flash sheets, throughout the night. The event will also have a raffle to win a basket filled with $200+ worth of merchandise from all of the vendors. All proceeds from the raffle ticket sales will go to benefit an unspecified charity.

Two-Day event at Gaslamp District bar features more than 20 artists

There’s always been an abundance of comics, collectible toys and T-shirts on sale at the biggest pop culture event of the year: San Diego Comic-Con International.

While enamel pin artists and vendors do make an appearance on the floor inside the San Diego Convention Center, they’re a bit further and farther between.

It’s a void that Arakel Kaloyan has aimed to fill with this year’s Pin Pop-Up at Coin-Op Gaslamp, which is walking distance from the convention center.

“A lot of people, especially when they were walking in, were cheering a bit and seemed really happy.”

“We had a little section for the (San Diego) Pin and Patch Con merchandise today so that they could buy pin and patch con T-shirts, totes or pennants. I was manning that today and we had a good handful of people thank us for putting on the event.”